Shloka 2536
Duryodhana-śibira-praveśaḥ — The Pāṇḍavas Enter the Kaurava Camp; The Burning of Arjuna’s Chariot
क्ुद्धस्याशीविषस्येव च्छिन्नपुच्छस्य भारत । तत्पश्चात् उसने श्रीकृष्णकी ओर भौंहें टेढ़ी करके देखा
kruddhasyāśīviṣasyeva chinnapucchasya bhārata | tatpaścāt sa tu śrīkṛṣṇaṃ prati bhruvau kuṭilīkṛtya dadarśa, tasya śarīrārdhaṃ samunnatam āsīt | tadā rājā duryodhanasya rūpaṃ kupitaviṣadharasya sadṛśaṃ babhūva, yaḥ pucchacchedāt śarīrārdham eva samunnīya paśyati ||
संजय बोले—हे भारत! क्रुद्ध, पूँछ-कटे विषधर के समान उसने भौंहें टेढ़ी करके श्रीकृष्ण की ओर देखा; उसका शरीर आधा उठा हुआ था। उस समय राजा दुर्योधन उसी कुपित सर्प के तुल्य प्रतीत होता था, जो पूँछ कट जाने से अपने पूरे शरीर को न उठा सके और आधे शरीर से ही फुफकारकर देखे।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to show that anger and wounded ego can remain dangerous even after one’s strength is crippled. A leader who clings to hostility after defeat becomes like a maimed but still venomous snake—capable of harm, yet no longer guided by restraint or dharma.
Sañjaya describes Duryodhana, physically impaired and emotionally inflamed, glaring at Kṛṣṇa with a hostile frown. His half-raised posture is compared to a tail-cut serpent that can only lift part of its body, emphasizing both his injury and his continuing menace.